Summer Course Experience: Monash University
On February 8, 2022, four Bachelor of Arts in English students and representatives of King Khalid University's 2021 Online Summer Program with Monash University, delivered a comprehensive webinar entitled "Summer Course Experience: Monash University".
The webinar was moderated by Rayan Hassan Alfaifi, a student participant in the Faculty of Languages and Translation's 2021 online summer program, "English Across Cultures and Intercultural Awareness". He opened the session with reflections on the significant depth of understanding about English language and culture gained from the program, and shared the motivation behind creating the webinar. "We felt compelled to share the valuable insights gained from the program, summarizing the learning experience in this webinar for the benefit of all students," Alfaifi noted. The webinar covered a wide range of topics including Monash University's unique aspects, Australian culture and language, teaching and learning culture, cultural awareness, bilingualism, native speakerism, pedagogy and fairness, and research tips.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi, Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Translation, lauded the program, saying, "We were delighted to offer this enriching opportunity to our top students, particularly in light of the ongoing pandemic." Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, Vice Dean of Academic Development & Quality, added, "The collaboration between the accomplished faculty of KKU and Monash University in designing a curriculum tailored to our students' needs is indeed remarkable."
The main presentation of the webinar was delivered by Hind Mufleh Abudaser, Jana Muneer Saeed, Rayan Hassan Alfaifi, and Faisal Mohammad Asiri. Their informative discussion touched upon the rich origins of Australian culture, the distinctive vocabulary of Australian English, the intersections of language and culture, and much more. They also delved into topics like the fallacies of native speakerism, pedagogy and fairness, equality vs. equity, and practical research tips.
The Summer Language Program, a recent initiative managed by the Faculty of Languages and Translation in collaboration with international partners, aims to provide extracurricular activities that nurture the talents and skills of gifted students. The Faculty extends its gratitude to the Alumni Unit for their commendable efforts in involving alumni in various events and activities. A recording of the event is available for those interested in revisiting the rich discussions of the webinar.
Title of the video recording: "Summer Course Experience: Monash University"
